Predictive Imaging Features and Longitudinal Follow-Up of Intracranial Meningiomas in Patients With Neurofibromatosis 2

Abstract

Purpose: Patients with the Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2) develop three major types of tumors: vestibular schwannomas (VS), meningiomas and ependymomas. The natural history of VSs has been well characterized, but that of meningiomas (which occur in multiple frequencies) is not well understood. Our study aims to understand the natural history of intracranial meningiomas by analyzing their radiologic features on CT and MR images as well as their pathologic features from those meningiomas that were resected. Methods: Between 1988 and 2015, 34 patients with a documented NF2 diagnosis were followed at MGH . Twenty-eight of these patients harbored at least 1 intracranial meningioma and the corresponding tumor data was obtained from T1 axial sequences on surveillance scans. Results: On average, women tend to have a higher meningioma burden and earlier age of diagnosis than men. However, men tend to have larger tumors with a much faster growth rate as measured by both linear and volumetric dimensions. De novo tumors also tend to exhibit a more aggressive growth pattern than pre-existing ones. There was not an association between ADC and tumor growth rate. Conclusions: Our results suggest that larger tumors, particular in men, as well as de novo tumors may warrant closer surveillance or early surgical intervention.